JP2011160362A - Image reading apparatus and method for controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reading apparatus that improves reading productivity during simultaneous double-sided reading without leading to increases in the size and cost of the apparatus and a method for controlling the image reading apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: In a single-sided reading mode, the image reading apparatus controls the scanning speed of a first image reading part to a first scanning speed and controls the distance between original document sheets to a first distance between original document sheets. Meanwhile, in a double-sided reading mode, the image reading apparatus controls the scanning speed of the first image reading part to a second scanning speed that is the scanning speed of a second image reading part and that is slower than the first scanning speed, and controls the distance between original document sheets to a second distance between original document sheets that is shorter than the first distance between original document sheets. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus including an image reading unit for a front surface and a back surface and a control method thereof.

  Currently, there has been proposed an image reading apparatus capable of simultaneously reading the front and back sides of a document. In the image reading apparatus, two image reading units for the front side and the back side are provided close to the document conveyance path, and the period during which the two image reading units read the document overlaps. The scanning speed (document conveyance speed) in the scanning unit is the same (see Patent Document 1). Since the performance of the sensor of the back surface image reading unit of this image reading apparatus is lower than the performance of the sensor of the front surface image reading unit, the scanning speed of the front surface image reading unit is matched to the performance of the back surface image reading unit during double-sided scanning. There is a need. For this reason, the scanning speed at the surface image reading unit at the time of double-sided reading is made lower than the scanning speed at the surface image reading unit at the time of single-sided reading.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-040512

However, the above conventional technology leaves room for improving the reading productivity at the time of double-sided reading. Specifically, in the conventional image reading apparatus, when a plurality of documents are read while being continuously conveyed, the distance between the documents at the trailing edge of the preceding document and the leading edge of the succeeding document becomes a predetermined distance. Thus, the document interval is controlled. The distance between the originals is always controlled to be constant regardless of whether the reading mode is single-sided or double-sided. Here, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, an image reading unit for the back surface that is used at a scanning speed slower than the scanning speed of the image reading unit for the front surface is mounted. The scanning speed in the image reading unit is reduced. However, if the distance between the originals is matched to the scanning speed and the image data transfer speed at the time of single-sided scanning, the time between the trailing edge of the preceding original and the leading edge of the subsequent original is reduced by the amount of the original conveyance speed at the time of double-sided reading at which the scanning speed is reduced. The interval (inter-paper time) becomes longer than that in the single-sided reading mode. On the other hand, since the image data transfer speed is constant regardless of the mode, if the paper interval time is longer than necessary with respect to the image data transfer processing time, the paper interval time is wasted time, and document reading productivity is reduced. It is a cause of lowering.

  As described above, the proposal described in Patent Document 1 employs a small-sized and low-cost image reading unit for the back surface, and thus has an advantage that the image reading apparatus can be reduced in size and cost. High reading productivity cannot be expected simply by adjusting the speed to the performance of the image reading unit for the back side.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and provides an image reading apparatus and a control method therefor that improve reading productivity in double-sided simultaneous reading without increasing the size and cost of the apparatus. With the goal.

  The present invention can be realized as an image reading apparatus, for example. The image reading apparatus includes a conveying unit that continuously conveys a plurality of documents at a predetermined inter-document distance, and a first scanning speed and a second scanning speed that is slower than the first scanning speed by the conveying unit. A first image reading unit that reads an image on the first side of the document that is being transported at the second position, and an image on the second side that is the back side of the first surface of the document that is being transported at the second scanning speed by the transport unit. In the case of the second image reading means for reading and the single-sided reading mode for reading one side of the original, the conveying means conveys a plurality of originals at the first inter-original distance and the first scanning speed, so that both sides of the original are scanned. In the case of the double-sided reading mode, the control unit includes a control unit that causes the transport unit to transport a plurality of documents at a second inter-original distance shorter than the first inter-document distance and at a second scanning speed. To do.

  The present invention can provide, for example, an image reading apparatus and a control method thereof that improve reading productivity in double-sided simultaneous reading without increasing the size and cost of the apparatus.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration example of an image reading apparatus 100 according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the circuit block for the reading control which concerns on this embodiment. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure of the image reading apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. 6 is a timing chart showing image reading timing and transfer timing during single-sided scanning according to the present embodiment. 6 is a timing chart showing image reading timing and transfer timing at the time of duplex scanning according to the present embodiment. 2 is a diagram showing a control configuration of an automatic document feeder 101 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing the control timing of the automatic document feeder 101 during duplex scanning according to the present embodiment. 6 is a timing chart showing image reading timing and transfer timing at the time of double-sided reading of this embodiment and at the time of double-sided scanning as a comparative example.

<Configuration of image reading apparatus>
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. First, a configuration example of the image reading apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, an image reading apparatus will be described as an example, but the present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus including an image reading unit. The image reading apparatus 100 includes an automatic document feeder 101 and an image reading unit 125.

  First, the configuration of the first image reading unit 125 for reading the surface of the document will be described. The image reading unit 125 includes an image reading sensor unit 121, an imaging lens 120, a light source 116, folding mirrors 117, 118, and 119, an original table glass 122, a frame 115, an image reading unit 124, and a back side reading glass 123. .

  The image reading sensor unit 121 is composed of a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD or CMOS which is a light receiving means. The imaging lens 120 condenses light from the document table onto the image reading sensor unit 121. The light source 116 irradiates light on the document on the document table. The folding mirrors 117, 118, and 119 guide reflected light from the document to the photoelectric conversion element. The light source 116 and the folding mirrors 117, 118, and 119 are supported by an optical unit frame (not shown). Frame body 115 supports document table glass 122 on which the document table is mounted.

  The first image reading unit 125 has a fixed document reading mode and a document flow reading mode. In the original fixed reading mode, an original is placed on the original platen glass 122, and the optical unit frame moves along the original to read an image. In the document flow reading mode, a document is transported from the automatic document transport device 101, and a document image is read without moving the optical unit frame. In addition, the image reading apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment has a single-sided reading mode for reading only an image on the front side of the document (image on the first side), an image on the front side of the document and an image on the back side (back side of the first side). A double-sided reading mode for simultaneously reading the second image). Here, simultaneously reading the front surface and the back surface means that the image reading unit 125 reads the front surface and the image reading unit 124 reads the back surface while the document is being conveyed from the roller 105 to the roller 113 in FIG. Does not mean that they are simultaneous in time.

  Next, the automatic document feeder 101 will be described. The automatic document feeder 101 includes a document feed tray 102, a document pickup roller 104, rollers 105 to 113, sensors S 1, S 2 and S 3, and a document discharge tray 103. First, the automatic document feeder 101 feeds paper from the document feed tray 102 while separating the sheets one by one by the document pickup roller 104. Thereafter, the original is conveyed by rollers 105 to 108 and is conveyed to the position of roller 109. At the position of the roller 109, the original reflects the light from the light source 116 that has moved to a position facing the roller 109, and the reflected light is reflected by the folding mirrors 117, 118, and 119, and passes through the imaging lens 120. Reflected light is sent to the image reading sensor unit 121. Thereby, the image on the surface of the document is read. Subsequently, the document is discharged to the document discharge tray 103 via the rollers 110 to 113.

  Next, reading of the back image will be described. The document that has passed through the rollers 109 and 110 at the reading position on the front surface reaches the roller 111. The roller 111 conveys the original between the back surface reading glass 123 and the roller 111, and the second image reading unit 124 located on the opposite side of the roller 111 and the back surface reading glass 123 sandwiches the back surface of the original. Read the image. The image reading unit 124 is an optical unit of a reduction optical system that performs photoelectric conversion by a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor using a folding mirror and a condensing lens, or a CIS (contact image) using a SELFOC lens array. Sensor). Although not shown in FIG. 1, the light source is included in the image reading unit 124. Light from the light source of the image reading unit 124 passes through the back side reading glass 123 and irradiates the back side of the document conveyed between the rollers 111, and the photoelectric conversion element of the image reading unit 124 emits the reflected light. Read photoelectric conversion.

  However, since the image reading unit 124 needs to be provided in the conveyance path of the automatic document conveyance device 101, the optical system from reading the document to the photoelectric conversion element needs to be small. As a result, the second image reading unit 124 is reduced in size so that the light collection rate of the original is reduced, and the sensitivity is lower than that of the first image reading unit 125. Therefore, in order to increase the light amount of the light source of the image reading unit 124, for example, a xenon lamp may be used. However, the xenon lamp has a problem that it generates a lot of heat, and a cooling system such as a fan must be incorporated as a countermeasure against this heat, resulting in an increase in size and cost of the apparatus. Further, even when a light source with low heat generation such as an LED light source is used, it is necessary to increase the number of LEDs in order to increase the amount of light, and in any case, when trying to obtain sensitivity equivalent to that of the first image reading unit 125. This will increase the size and cost of the device. For the above reasons, the allowable scanning speed of the second image reading unit 124 is lower than the allowable scanning speed of the first image reading unit 125.

<Scanning speed>
Here, the scanning speed for reading a document in the first and second image reading units 125 and 124 according to the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, description will be made on the premise that the document is read in the document flow reading mode. Therefore, the scanning speed is synonymous with the conveyance speed of the document when the document is read. Specifically, in the document flow reading mode, the image reading units 125 and 124 are conveyed at the position of the roller 109 corresponding to the reading position on the front surface in FIG. 1 and the position of the roller 111 serving as the reading position on the back surface. Scan the original. Therefore, the scanning speed at which each image reading unit reads a document depends on the document conveyance speed at the reading position. The scanning speed (first scanning speed) V1 in the single-sided reading mode in the first image reading unit 125 is set to be equal to the scanning speed (second scanning speed) V2 in the second image reading unit 124 for the back surface. Control is performed to satisfy V1> V2. That is, in this embodiment, the document conveyance speed in the single-sided reading mode is controlled to be higher than the document conveyance speed in the two-sided reading mode.

  According to the present embodiment, the scanning speed in the first image reading unit 125 in the double-sided scanning mode is set to a scanning speed slower than V1, for example, the scanning speed V2. Further, the illuminance I1 (lx) at the light source 116 of the first image reading unit 125 and the illuminance I2 (lx) at the light source of the second image reading unit 124 have a relationship of I1> I2.

  Note that in order to change the scanning speed in the first image reading unit 125 from V1 to V2, it is necessary to reduce the amount of incident light to the photoelectric conversion element of the first image reading unit 125 than in the single-sided reading mode. . Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the first image reading unit 125 performs reading at V2 that is slower than the scanning speed V1, the illuminance in the light source 116 of the first image reading unit 125, the photosensitive pixel accumulation time, the pixel At least one of the reading speed and the gain of the amplifier circuit in the analog signal processing unit is switched. Thereby, in the 1st image reading part 125, it can control to the incident light quantity suitable for the scanning speed V2 so that incident light quantity may not become excess.

<Reading control configuration>
Next, the reading control configuration of the image reading apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the circuit block on the front side will be described. The front-side image reading unit 125 includes a light amount control unit 131 that controls the light amount of the light source 116 and an image reading sensor unit 121 that includes a photoelectric conversion element. The light amount control unit 131 controls the light amount of the light source 116 according to the light amount adjustment value 142 that controls the light source light amount from the reading control unit 134. The image reading sensor unit 121 turns on the light source 116 at a predetermined timing in accordance with a timing signal 143 generated by a timing generation circuit built in the reading control unit 134. As a result, the image reading unit 125 sequentially converts the optical information from the document into an analog image signal 144 and outputs the analog image signal 144 to the analog signal reading processing unit 133. Similarly, the analog signal reading processing unit 133 converts the analog image signal 144 output from the image reading sensor unit 121 into a digital image signal 147 in accordance with the timing signal 145 from the reading control unit 134. At the time of shading correction, the analog image signal 144 output from the image reading sensor unit 121 is transmitted to the reading control unit 134 as shading data 146. The shading data 146 transmitted to the reading control unit 134 is used by the CPU 138 connected to the reading control unit 134 via the data bus 153, and the shading correction value is determined. The determined shading correction value is set in the image processing unit 141, and shading correction is performed on the image data. In the present embodiment, the CPU 138 functions as a control unit.

  Next, the circuit block on the back side will be described. The back side image reading unit 124 includes a light amount control unit 135 that controls the light amount of the light source, and an image reading sensor unit 136 that includes a photoelectric conversion element. The image reading sensor unit 136 sequentially converts optical information from the document into an analog image signal 144 according to the timing signal 143 generated by the timing generation circuit built in the reading control unit 134 and outputs the analog image signal 144. Unlike the light amount control unit 131 on the front side, the light amount control unit 135 does not receive a control signal from the reading control unit 134. The reason is that since the image reading unit 124 does not change the light amount according to the scanning speed, it is a control block for lighting with a constant light amount. The analog signal reading processing unit 137 converts the analog image signal 148 output from the image reading sensor unit 136 into a digital image signal 149 in accordance with the timing signal 145 from the reading control unit 134. At the time of shading correction, an analog image signal 148 output from the image reading sensor unit 136 is transmitted to the reading control unit 134 as shading data 146. The shading data 146 transmitted to the reading control unit 134 is used by the CPU 138 connected to the reading control unit 134 via the data bus 153, and the shading correction value is determined. The determined shading correction value is set in the image processing unit 141, and shading correction is performed on the image data. The image processing unit 141 holds the front-side shading correction value and the back-side shading correction value, and performs shading correction on the front-side / back-side image data.

  The front-side digital image signal 147 and the back-side digital image signal 149 are transmitted to the image memory unit (storage unit) 139 and temporarily held in the image memory unit 139. The image memory unit 139 controls writing and reading of a digital image signal transmitted to the image memory unit 139 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 138. The image memory unit 139 outputs the temporarily held digital image signal to the image output unit 140 by alternately switching the front surface image data and the back surface image data. On the other hand, in the single-sided reading mode (when only the image reading unit 125 is used), only the surface image data is sequentially read from the image memory unit 139.

  According to the present embodiment, when a plurality of originals are continuously conveyed, the interval of the image data of the digital image signal 150 is different between the single-sided scanning mode and the double-sided scanning mode. The CPU 138 gives these timing instructions to the image memory unit 139. Specifically, the interval T1 (ms) between the preceding image and the subsequent image in the digital image signal 150 in the single-sided reading mode, and the interval T2 (ms) between the preceding image and the subsequent image in the digital image signal 150 in the double-sided reading mode. ) Is controlled so that T1> T2.

<Reading timing and transfer timing>
Next, the image reading timing and the image data transfer timing in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, and 8. FIG. 4 shows the relationship between image reading timing and image data transfer in the single-sided reading mode. FIG. 5 shows the relationship between image reading timing and image data transfer in the duplex reading mode. FIG. 8 shows a comparison of image reading timing and transfer timing in the comparative example and this embodiment.

  First, in the single-sided reading mode of FIG. 4, only the first image reading unit 125 is used to read only one side (front side). Reference numeral 401 shown in FIG. 4 indicates image reading timing. Reference numeral 402 denotes the transfer timing of the read image data. The scanning speed for reading an image in the single-sided reading mode, that is, the document conveying speed is V1 (mm / msec), and the time between the paper from the trailing edge of the preceding document to the leading edge of the succeeding document at the image reading position in the roller 109 is α (msec). That is, the distance between the trailing edge of the preceding document at the image reading position on the roller 109 and the leading edge of the succeeding document (first document distance) X1 (mm) is X1 (mm) = V1 × α. The read image data is temporarily stored in the image memory unit 139 and then sequentially output to the image output unit 140. Therefore, the timing of the image data in the image output unit 140 is output with a delay of Ta (msec) from the image reading timing, and the data interval (first time interval) in the image output unit 140 is T1 (msec). The reason why the data interval is T1 in FIG. 4 is that processing time in the image processing block is required when transferring data from the image output unit 140 to the image processing unit 141. Therefore, the data interval T1 includes the delay time in the image processing block in the paper interval time α at the reading position. Here, the sheet interval is the distance between the trailing edge of the preceding document and the leading edge of the subsequent document at the reading positions of the first and second image reading units 125 and 124. Therefore, the inter-paper time is the time interval. The inter-paper distance is the distance expressed as a distance. Further, the reading position indicates a position where the roller 109 and the document table glass 122 are in contact with each other in the first image reading unit 125. On the other hand, in the case of the second image reading unit 124, the reading position indicates a position where the roller 111 and the back surface reading glass 123 are in contact with each other.

  Next, the timing at the time of double-sided reading will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 501 denotes the image reading timing on the surface. Reference numeral 502 denotes the back side image reading timing. Reference numeral 503 denotes the transfer timing of the read image data. In the case of double-sided scanning, the scanning speed on the front side and the back side is V2 (mm / msec) in order to match the scanning speed of the first image reading unit 125 with that of the second image reading unit 124. That is, at the time of double-sided reading, the scanning speed is slower than the scanning speed V1 at the time of single-sided reading. As a result, the scanning speed of the first and second image reading units 125 and 124 becomes V2, and the automatic document feeder 101 conveys the document according to the speed of V2. Further, in the present embodiment, at the time of duplex scanning, the sheet distance X2 (second document distance) at the image reading position of the rollers 109 and 111 is set to be smaller than the distance X1 at the time of single-sided scanning. . As the document conveyance control, the sheet interval is controlled so that the sheet interval time β (msec) satisfies X1> X2, that is, the relational expression β <(V1 × α) / V2 holds. In FIG. 5, a data interval (second time interval) T2 is a processing time in the image processing block when data is transferred from the image output unit 140 to the image processing unit 141. T2 (msec) includes a reading position. The delay time of the paper interval time β is not included. This is because when reading images on both sides at the same time, the paper interval time β generated at the reading position is absorbed by the image memory unit 139 and is not included in the delay time of image transfer in the image output unit 140.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 8, a difference in timing between the present embodiment and the comparative example at the time of double-sided reading will be described. Since the timing chart 800 is the same as the timing chart of FIG. 5 according to the present embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. A timing chart 810 is a timing chart at the time of double-sided reading as a comparative example. Reference numeral 801 denotes the image reading timing on the surface. Reference numeral 802 denotes the back side image reading timing. Reference numeral 803 denotes the transfer timing of the read image data.

  A timing chart 810 of the comparative example shows each timing when the scanning speed is changed from V1 to V2 in the single-sided reading mode and the double-sided reading mode and the distance between the originals is not changed. On the other hand, in the timing chart 800 according to the present embodiment, as described with reference to FIG. 5, the scanning speed is changed from V1 to V2 in the single-sided reading mode and the double-sided reading mode, and the distance between the originals is different from that in the single-sided reading mode. FIG. 6 also shows each timing when control is performed so as to be shortened in the duplex reading mode. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the paper interval time in the double-sided reading mode in the present embodiment is β (msec), whereas the paper interval time γ (msec) in the comparative example is γ> β. . Thereby, as shown in the transfer timing 803 of the image data, the data interval T3 (msec) between the first surface on the back surface and the second surface on the front surface is T3> T2. That is, in the comparative example, the time corresponding to T3−T2 (msec) has passed wastefully compared to the present embodiment. As described above, the image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment, as shown in the timing chart 800, sets the inter-document distance (image data transfer processing is possible) when reading at a document scanning speed suitable for the duplex scanning mode. (Within range) shorter than single-sided scanning mode. Thus, the image reading apparatus can improve document reading productivity.

<Conveyance control configuration>
Next, the control configuration of the automatic document feeder 101 will be described with reference to FIG. The CPU 138 is connected to the document conveyance control unit 154 via the data bus 153. The document conveyance control unit 154 controls a conveyance motor M1, a registration motor M2, and a read motor M3 for conveying a document. The document conveyance control unit 154 receives signals from the paper trailing edge detection sensor S1, the registration sensor S2, and the read sensor S3 for generating document conveyance timing, and notifies the CPU 138 of the sensor state. The paper feed clutch CL is provided to transmit the driving of the carry motor M1 to the document pickup roller 104 when feeding the document from the document feed tray 102, and is driven and controlled by the document feed control unit 154. The transport motor M1 drives the rollers 105 and 106. The registration motor M2 drives the roller 107. The read motor M3 drives the rollers 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, and 113.

<Transport timing>
Next, the document conveyance control timing will be described with reference to FIG. 701 shown in FIG. 7 indicates the drive timing of the paper feed clutch CL. Reference numeral 702 denotes the drive timing of the transport motor M1. Reference numeral 703 denotes the drive timing of the registration motor M2. The drive timing of the read motor M3 is shown. Reference numeral 705 denotes the detection timing of the paper trailing edge detection sensor S1. Reference numeral 706 denotes the detection timing of the registration sensor S2. Reference numeral 707 denotes the detection timing of the lead sensor S3.

  First, when the duplex scanning mode is notified to the CPU 138, the document conveyance control unit 154 sets the document conveyance speed in the conveyance motor M1 to a speed that matches the scanning speed V2. The document conveyance control unit 154 drives the conveyance motor M1 and operates the sheet feeding clutch CL to feed the first document. Thereafter, the document conveyance control unit 154 drives the conveyance motor M1 until the leading edge of the paper reaches the registration sensor S2, and stops the conveyance motor M1 after the registration sensor S2 detects the leading edge of the paper. The registration motor M2 and the read motor M3 are still stopped from when the document feeding is started until the leading edge of the paper is detected by the registration sensor S2.

  Next, the document conveyance control unit 154 simultaneously drives the conveyance motor M1, the registration motor M2, and the read motor M3 at a speed that matches the scanning speed V2. When the leading edge of the first document reaches the read sensor S3, image reading on the front surface is started after a predetermined delay time at the time of duplex scanning. Further, when a predetermined delay time at the time of double-sided scanning has elapsed from the timing at which the front-side image reading is started, the back-side image reading is started.

  Thereafter, when the trailing edge of the first document passes the trailing edge detection sensor S1, the document conveyance control unit 154 drives the sheet feeding clutch CL to start feeding the second document. When the trailing edge of the first document passes the registration sensor S2, the document conveyance control unit 154 stops driving the registration motor M2 and accelerates the document conveyance speed of the conveyance motor M1. Thereafter, the document conveyance control unit 154 decelerates in front of the registration roller 107, and stops driving the conveyance motor M1 when the leading edge of the second document reaches the registration sensor S2. At this timing, the trailing edge of the preceding first sheet has not yet reached the read sensor S3.

  When the trailing edge of the first document reaches the reader sensor S3, the document conveyance control unit 154 starts driving the registration motor M2 and the conveyance motor M1 simultaneously. Further, the document conveyance control unit 154 matches the scanning speed V2 so that the distance between the trailing edge of the preceding first document and the leading edge of the second document reaches X2 before reaching the roller 118. The document is fed at a speed higher than the speed. As a result, the space between the originals becomes X2 before the leading edge of the second original reaches the roller 118. When the sheet interval becomes X2, the document conveyance control unit 154 decelerates the conveyance motor M1 and the registration motor M2 to a speed that matches the image scanning speed V2, and then conveys the document by the read motor M3. In this way, the paper gap X2 is adjusted in the present embodiment.

<Control procedure>
Next, a control procedure of image reading control in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The process described below is executed by the CPU 138 according to a program stored in advance. First, in step S101, the CPU 138 determines whether the set original reading mode is the single-sided reading mode or the double-sided reading mode. Here, when the reading mode is the single-sided reading mode, the process proceeds to S102, and the CPU 138 performs setting for single-sided reading. Specifically, the CPU 138 sets the scanning speed of the CCD sensor (or CMOS sensor) of the image reading unit 125 to V1 (mm / sec). Further, the CPU 138 sets the photosensitive pixel accumulation time, the light source light amount, the pixel readout speed, and the gain of the amplifier circuit of the analog signal readout processor 133 to predetermined values in the CCD sensor.

  Here, the accumulation time of the CCD sensor indicates the time during which the amount of light received by the photodiode of the CCD sensor is accumulated as a charge. The accumulation time is set within the main scanning readout time for one line of the image. Therefore, if the main-scan reading time for one line becomes faster, the accumulation time needs to be set shorter. On the other hand, when the main scanning readout time for one line is delayed, the sensitivity increases, so that the accumulation time can be delayed. In addition, it is possible to reduce the sensitivity by reducing the light amount of the light source without changing the accumulation time, and the sensitivity can also be changed by changing the gain of the analog value output with the sensitivity increased by the CCD sensor. Can be changed. In other words, when changing the scanning speed, at least one of the accumulation time of the photosensitive pixels of the CCD sensor, the light source light amount, the pixel reading speed, and the gain of the amplifier circuit in the analog signal reading processing unit 133 is changed. Thus, the sensitivity of the image reading unit 125 can be matched to the scanning speed.

  When the single-sided reading mode is set in S102, in S103, the CPU 138 determines whether or not a document is set. If it is set, the process proceeds to S104. On the other hand, if no document is set, the process returns to S101. In S104, the CPU 138 determines whether or not a reading start instruction is given, and if given, proceeds to S105. On the other hand, if the reading start instruction is not given, the process returns to S101. In step S <b> 105, the CPU 138 causes the CCD sensor shading operation in the image reading unit 125 for the front surface to be executed.

  Subsequently, in S106, the CPU 138 conveys the documents one by one by the automatic document conveying device 101, and causes the CCD sensor to read the image information on the surface of the document. The scanning speed here is V1. Further, in S107, the CPU 138 determines whether or not the document currently being read is the last document to be read. Here, if it is the last document, when the current reading process is completed, the process of this flowchart is terminated and the normal standby mode is restored. On the other hand, if the document to be read still remains, the process proceeds to S108. In S <b> 108, the CPU 138 determines that the sheet interval between the trailing edge of the preceding first document and the leading edge of the second document is X <b> 1 (the sheet interval during single-sided reading) at the reading position (the position of the roller 109). The conveyance speed of the second original is adjusted, and the process returns to S106.

  As described above, in the single-sided reading mode, the scanning speed V1 (mm) of the CCD sensor (or CMOS sensor) is higher than that of the CCD sensor (or CMOS sensor) of the second image reading unit 124 set in advance. / Sec). As a result, the document can be read at a scanning speed V1 that is faster than the scanning speed V2 in the duplex scanning mode.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S101 that the duplex scanning mode is selected, the process proceeds to S109, and the CPU 138 performs settings for duplex scanning. Specifically, the CPU 138 sets the scanning speed of the CCD sensor in the first image reading unit 125 to the scanning speed V2 (mm / sec) of the CCD sensor in the second image reading unit. Further, the CPU 138 sets the accumulation time of the photosensitive pixels of the CCD sensor, the light source light amount, the pixel reading speed, and the gain of the amplification circuit in the analog signal reading processing unit 133 to predetermined values.

  When the single-sided reading mode is set in S109, in S110, the CPU 138 determines whether or not a document is set. If it is set, the process proceeds to S111. On the other hand, if no document is set, the process returns to S101. In S111, the CPU 138 determines whether or not a reading start instruction is given, and if given, proceeds to S112. On the other hand, if the reading start instruction is not given, the process returns to S101. In S <b> 112, the CPU 138 causes the CCD sensor in the front-side image reading unit 125 and the shading operation of the CCD sensor in the back-side image reading unit 124 to be executed.

  Subsequently, in S113, the CPU 138 conveys the documents one by one by the automatic document conveying device 101, and causes the CCD sensor of the image reading unit 125 to read the image information on the surface of the document. The scanning speed here is V2. Further, in S <b> 114, the CPU 138 causes the image reading unit 124 to execute the image on the back side of the document when the document is conveyed to the roller 111 and reaches the reading position of the second image reading unit 124. Furthermore, in S115, the CPU 138 determines whether or not the document currently being read is the last document to be read. Here, if it is the last document, when the current reading process is completed, the process of this flowchart is terminated and the normal standby mode is restored. On the other hand, if the document to be read remains, the process proceeds to S116. In S116, the CPU 138 makes the interval between the trailing edge of the preceding first document and the leading edge of the second document X2 (the interval between the two-sided reading) at the reading position (the position of the roller 109). The conveyance speed of the second original is adjusted, and the process returns to S113.

  As described above, in the double-sided reading mode, since the document conveyance speed is constant from the roller 109 to the roller 111, the scanning speed of the CCD sensor in the first image reading unit 125 is set to the CCD sensor in the second image reading unit 124. To the scanning speed V2 (mm / sec). However, when the scanning speed of the CCD sensor of the first image reading unit 125 is decreased from the scanning speed V1 (mm / sec) of the CCD sensor alone to V2, the apparent sensitivity per pixel is higher than that at V1. Accordingly, in S109, the reading control unit 134 adjusts the accumulation time of the photosensitive pixels of the CCD sensor to be shorter by the decrease in the scanning speed in the CCD driver of the image reading sensor unit 121 so that an image equivalent to that at V1 can be obtained. . Alternatively, the reading control unit 134 adjusts the light source light amount by the decrease in the scanning speed, or decreases the pixel reading speed to correspond to the decrease in the scanning speed, or an amplification circuit in the analog signal reading processing unit 133. In step S109, the gain is set to be small.

  As described above, in the single-sided reading mode, the image reading apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment controls the scanning speed of the first image reading unit 125 to the first scanning speed and sets the distance between documents. Control to the first inter-document distance. On the other hand, in the double-sided reading mode, the image reading apparatus 100 controls the scanning speed in the first image reading unit 125 and the second image reading unit 124 to a second scanning speed that is slower than the first scanning speed. At the same time, the inter-document distance is controlled to a second inter-document distance that is shorter than the first inter-document distance. Further, the image reading apparatus 100 temporarily stores image data read from the original by the image reading units 125 and 124 in an image memory or the like. In the single-sided reading mode, the image of the front surface stored in the image memory is stored. Data is output at a first time interval. On the other hand, in the double-sided reading mode, the image reading apparatus 100 outputs the image data of the front surface and the back surface stored in the image memory at a second time interval that is slower than the first time interval while alternately switching the image data. . As described above, the image reading apparatus according to this embodiment includes the image reading unit 124 that has a relatively low scanning speed and reads the back side of the document in addition to the normal image reading unit 125. The increase in size and cost can be suppressed, and both sides of the document can be read simultaneously. Further, the image reading apparatus can improve the reading productivity by narrowing the sheet interval in the duplex reading mode as compared with the sheet interval in the single-sided reading mode.

Claims (6)

Conveying means for continuously conveying a plurality of documents at a predetermined document distance;
First image reading means for reading an image on a first surface of a document conveyed by the conveying means at either a first scanning speed or a second scanning speed that is slower than the first scanning speed;
A second image reading means for reading an image on a second surface which is the back surface of the first surface of the document being conveyed at the second scanning speed by the conveying means;
In the single-sided reading mode in which one side of the original is read, a plurality of originals are conveyed by the conveying unit at the first inter-document distance and the first scanning speed, and in the double-sided reading mode in which both sides of the original are read. Comprises: a control means for transporting a plurality of documents by the transport means at a second inter-original distance shorter than the first inter-document distance and at the second scanning speed. . Storage means for temporarily storing image data read from a document by the first image reading means and the second image reading means;
In the case of the single-sided reading mode, the image data read from the first surface stored in the storage unit is output at a first time interval, and in the case of the double-sided reading mode, the image data is stored in the storage unit. Image output means for outputting the image data read from the first surface and the image data read from the second surface alternately at a second time interval shorter than the first time interval while alternately switching the image data read from the second surface; The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The first image reading means includes
Irradiating means for irradiating the document with light;
A light receiving means for receiving reflected light reflected from the document and outputting an analog image signal indicating the received light quantity;
Conversion means for converting the analog image signal output from the light receiving means into a digital image signal and outputting it as image data read from a document;
The control means includes
In order to switch the amount of incident light on the first image reading unit between the double-sided reading mode and the single-sided reading mode, the illuminance of the irradiation unit, the photosensitive pixel accumulation time in the light receiving unit, the pixel reading speed, and the The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of gains of an amplifier circuit provided in the conversion unit is controlled.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the illuminance of the irradiation unit in the double-sided reading mode is smaller than the illuminance in the single-sided reading mode. The control means includes
The first scanning speed is set to V1 (mm / msec), the second scanning speed is set to V2 (mm / msec), and the time from the trailing edge passage of the preceding document to the leading edge of the succeeding document in the single-sided scanning mode. Is α (msec), and β (msec) is the time from the trailing edge passage of the preceding document to the leading edge of the succeeding document in the double-sided reading mode, the relational expression β <(V1 × α) / V2 is satisfied. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the second originals is controlled. A conveying unit that conveys a plurality of documents continuously at a predetermined distance between the originals, and a first scanning speed and a second scanning speed that is slower than the first scanning speed are conveyed by the conveying unit. A first image reading unit that reads an image on a first side of a document that is being scanned, and an image on a second side that is the back side of the first side of the document that is being conveyed at the second scanning speed by the conveying unit. A second image reading unit for reading the image reading apparatus,
When the control unit is in a single-sided reading mode for reading one side of a document, the conveyance unit transports a plurality of documents at a first inter-document distance and the first scanning speed, and reads both sides of the document. In the case of the mode, a control step is performed in which a plurality of documents are conveyed by the conveying means at a second inter-original distance shorter than the first inter-original distance and at the second scanning speed. For controlling the image reading apparatus.

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